Ailsa Changhttp://wlrn.org
enSenators Deny Obama Authority To Expedite Pacific Trade Deal http://wlrn.org/post/senators-deny-obama-authority-expedite-pacific-trade-deal
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Senators+Deny+Obama+Authority+To+Expedite+Pacific+Trade+Deal+&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAyMjQ1NTA4MDEyMjU5MTk3OTdlZmMzMQ004)"/></div><p>Tue, 12 May 2015 20:34:00 +0000Ailsa Chang50037 at http://wlrn.orgWhat Eye Contact — And Dogs — Can Teach Us About Civility In Politicshttp://wlrn.org/post/what-eye-contact-and-dogs-can-teach-us-about-civility-politics
Republican Warren Limmer sits in the second row of the Minnesota state Senate. He says more than 80 percent of his colleagues sit behind him. But he doesn't dare turn around to look at them when he gets up to speak.<p>He might get scolded. It has happened before.<p>"Then my cadence is thrown off," Limmer said. "I have to beg forgiveness to the Senate president. And then I'll get a slight admonishment, and then I can proceed."<p>Minnesota Senate Rule 36.8 requires that all remarks during debate be addressed to the Senate president at the front of the chamber. It has been on the books forever.Fri, 08 May 2015 09:01:00 +0000Ailsa Chang49819 at http://wlrn.orgWhat Eye Contact — And Dogs — Can Teach Us About Civility In PoliticsFull Senate Debates May Reveal Recent Bipartisanship As An Illusionhttp://wlrn.org/post/full-senate-debates-may-reveal-recent-bipartisanship-illusion
Just a few weeks ago we heard a lot about a delicate compromise that would allow Congress <a href="http://www.npr.org/2015/04/14/399641350/senate-panel-backs-bill-to-allow-congressional-review-of-iran-deal" target="_blank">to review any deal emerging from nuclear talks with Iran</a>. It came from a bipartisan negotiation in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee — to wide acclaim.<p>But that deal still needs to survive a vote of the full Senate, a far more daunting challenge in these partisan times.Sat, 02 May 2015 20:17:00 +0000Ailsa Chang49553 at http://wlrn.orgFull Senate Debates May Reveal Recent Bipartisanship As An IllusionBudget Reconciliation Explained Through Chutes And Ladders http://wlrn.org/post/budget-reconciliation-explained-through-chutes-and-ladders
There's a word you're going to be hearing a lot as Congress tries to pass a budget this year: reconciliation. It's a procedural fast-track lawmakers get to use after they approve a budget. Republicans are hoping to repeal the Affordable Care Act — or, at least parts of it — through reconciliation, but they're not likely to win that game.<p>Maybe the best way to think about reconciliation is through the favorite board game Chutes and Ladders. The object is to get to the very last square on the board.Fri, 20 Mar 2015 19:42:00 +0000Ailsa Chang47334 at http://wlrn.orgBudget Reconciliation Explained Through Chutes And Ladders Missed Abortion Language Tangles Senate's Trafficking Billhttp://wlrn.org/post/missed-abortion-language-tangles-senates-trafficking-bill
A once widely supported Senate bill that would create a fund for human trafficking victims has hit a snag over language Democrats say they didn't know was in the bill — a provision that would bar funds collected under the measure from being used to pay for abortions. And the impasse over that language now threatens to delay other Senate business, like confirming a new attorney general.<p>The bill would create a "Domestic Trafficking Victims' Fund" — a restitution fund for victims collected through fines on people convicted of trafficking crimes.Mon, 16 Mar 2015 20:37:00 +0000Ailsa Chang47091 at http://wlrn.orgMissed Abortion Language Tangles Senate's Trafficking BillHouse Passes No-Strings-Attached Bill To Fund Homeland Securityhttp://wlrn.org/post/house-passes-no-strings-attached-bill-fund-homeland-security
An effort by some congressional Republicans to block President Obama's executive actions on immigration by tying it to a Homeland Security spending bill officially failed on Tuesday. House Speaker John Boehner yet again bucked the most conservative wing of his party and brought a "clean" funding bill to the floor. It passed easily, thanks to unanimous backing by Democrats. <div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR.Tue, 03 Mar 2015 22:47:00 +0000Ailsa Chang46473 at http://wlrn.orgFor TSA Officers, Congress' Inaction On Funding Could Hit Homehttp://wlrn.org/post/tsa-officers-congress-inaction-funding-could-hit-home
Congress has until the end of Friday to figure out a way to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Otherwise, the department shuts down. But a "shutdown" doesn't mean workers go home.Mon, 23 Feb 2015 09:22:00 +0000Ailsa Chang45986 at http://wlrn.orgFor TSA Officers, Congress' Inaction On Funding Could Hit HomeMcConnell's Call For 'Regular Order' May Not Mean What It Used Tohttp://wlrn.org/post/mcconnells-call-regular-order-may-not-mean-what-it-used
"Regular order" is a phrase you'd normally hear only from Congress nerds, but it's increasingly common in conversations about the Senate this year.<p>When Mitch McConnell became Senate majority leader, he promised he'd restore what he called regular order in that chamber. But Democrats have been accusing him of violating regular order ever since.<p>When you listen to senators talk about regular order, it sounds like this fabulous, amazing thing.Sun, 08 Feb 2015 15:56:00 +0000Ailsa Chang45244 at http://wlrn.orgMcConnell's Call For 'Regular Order' May Not Mean What It Used ToKeystone Supporters Hope Amendments Will Soften Pipeline Oppositionhttp://wlrn.org/post/keystone-supporters-hope-amendments-will-soften-pipeline-opposition
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Keystone+Supporters+Hope+Amendments+Will+Soften+Pipeline+Opposition&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDA4MzM1ODU4MDEzMTg5NjcxOTBkZGJhOA004)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>SCOTT SIMON, HOST: <p>A bill to authorize extending the Keystone pipeline passed the House of Representatives yesterday. It goes to the Senate next week.Sat, 10 Jan 2015 12:50:00 +0000Ailsa Chang43782 at http://wlrn.orgOutrage On The Left And Right As Senate Delays Spending Votehttp://wlrn.org/post/outrage-left-and-right-senate-delays-spending-vote
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Outrage+On+The+Left+And+Right+As+Senate+Delays+Spending+Vote&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAwMzY5MzE4MDEzMTE3ODg5NDA4ZjRiNg004)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>SCOTT SIMON, HOST: <p>Senators will also head to the Capitol today. Last night, they were poised to pass the trillion dollar spending bill that narrowly cleared the House this week. But members of both parties found reasons to resist the measure.Sat, 13 Dec 2014 13:12:00 +0000Ailsa Chang42518 at http://wlrn.orgTheir Senate, Their Rules: GOP May Allow Blocking Of Nominees Againhttp://wlrn.org/post/their-senate-their-rules-gop-may-allow-blocking-nominees-again
Incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says one of his top priorities will be to make the Senate work the way it used to — which would include the use of filibusters to block presidential appointments. But would that improve the way the Senate works? Republicans will be debating that question behind closed doors Tuesday.Mon, 08 Dec 2014 09:57:00 +0000Ailsa Chang42250 at http://wlrn.orgTheir Senate, Their Rules: GOP May Allow Blocking Of Nominees AgainMitch McConnell's Mission: Making The Senate Work Againhttp://wlrn.org/post/mitch-mcconnells-mission-making-senate-work-again
At 72, after 30 years in the U.S. Senate, Mitch McConnell has finally realized his life's ambition.<p>He never wanted to be president — he just wanted to be Senate majority leader. And when he ascends to that perch come January, McConnell will finally have a chance to shape the chamber he says he deeply loves. McConnell declared his first priority will be to make what's been called a paralyzed Senate function again.Wed, 12 Nov 2014 22:44:00 +0000Ailsa Chang41155 at http://wlrn.orgMitch McConnell's Mission: Making The Senate Work AgainAfter 8 Years, Republicans Win Control Of U.S. Senatehttp://wlrn.org/post/after-8-years-republicans-win-control-us-senate
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=After+8+Years%2C+Republicans+Win+Control+Of+U.S.+Senate&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDA1MjI2NzUxMDEyNzQyMTY5MjQ2YzkwNA004)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>DAVID GREENE, HOST: <p>There is very little upside for Democrats in yesterday's election results.Wed, 05 Nov 2014 10:00:00 +0000Ailsa Chang40786 at http://wlrn.orgSen. Mitch McConnell Has More Than Most Riding On Midterm Electionshttp://wlrn.org/post/sen-mitch-mcconnell-has-lot-riding-midterm-elections
If Republicans take over the Senate, the man expected to become the next majority leader is Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. The title would be the culmination of a political career spanning more than three decades.<p>But first, McConnell has to win a sixth Senate term in a state where his popularity's been sagging.<p>It would be a stretch to call McConnell an endearing politician. When his face relaxes, his thin lips often droop into a frown.Mon, 03 Nov 2014 10:04:00 +0000Ailsa Chang40659 at http://wlrn.orgSen. Mitch McConnell Has More Than Most Riding On Midterm ElectionsAfter Sunday Service, Georgia Churches Get Souls To The Pollshttp://wlrn.org/post/georgia-democrats-hope-get-souls-polls-after-church
At The Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church in Atlanta, about 700 congregants jam the pews every Sunday morning at 10:30. The church is near the edge of DeKalb County, and it's helping lead a "Souls to the Polls" drive.<p>Georgia Democrat Michelle Nunn is running an extremely tight race for Senate against Republican David Perdue, and the difference between victory and defeat could ride on the African-American vote. The push is on to get voters to turn out early — especially at black churches.<p>This year, for the first time in Georgia's history, some polling places are open on Sundays.Mon, 27 Oct 2014 08:36:00 +0000Ailsa Chang40348 at http://wlrn.orgAfter Sunday Service, Georgia Churches Get Souls To The Polls